Buying the Camera
In the previous post I explained the marathon of choosing a digtal SLR camera and now it was time to find the best price. I pulled an unusual maneuver for shopping in Bangkok and called camera places over the phone to get a general idea of the price I would be paying for the Nikon D90 Kit (lens included). I called places in the expensive mall Central World and in the cheap mall (my favorite) MBK and the price quotes I got were all in the same ballpark. They consistent prices I got over the phone ranged from 43,500 baht ($1,300USD) to 46,500 baht ($1,390USD) which is around what I saw in stores.
The next day I made up my mind I was going to buy the Nikon D90 although I was still doing some last minute research. I ended up heading to MBK around 6pm and I was going to try to find the best price and if all else failed I was going to go to a recommended camera shop called Photofile. Unexpectedly I had 2 friends who were at MBK and wanted to see a movie and they already had tickets. The time was around 6:50 and the movie started at 7:00 and I just had the itch that I had to get the camera that day so I told them to go grab a seat while I bought a camera.
I walked down to the 4th floor and walked in the first camera place I saw and asked how much the Nikon D90 kit was expecting it to be something what I was quoted over the phone . To my surprise they wanted only 41,500 baht ($1,240USD) for it. The place was called Digilife and they had the usual suspects of beginner to mid-range SLR cameras so I figured I was getting a legit product. I got the Nikon factory warranty for the new product which was distributed by Nikon Netherlands interestingly enough. Their website is DigilifeThailand.com but is unfortunately not available in English. I snatched the camera up for a good $100 cheaper than I was expecting to pay then ran back upstairs to catch the movie.
My Past and Present Travel Pictures
My Past and Present Travel Pictures
Taking Pictures: HELP!
Since I hadn’t had any formal photography instruction in over 15 years I knew to get the full benefits from the Nikon D90 which is considered a “mid-range” digital SLR I would need some instruction. I scoured Google for some helpful photography links and I found two which I really like and refer to quite often. The first one is called DSLRtips.com and it is ran by the same guy who does CameraLabs.com which helped me choose a camera. On DSLRTips.com there is some great videos in their ‘workshops’ section explaining the basics of night photography, motion photography, sunsets and much more.
The second website I refer to is a site that has been online for a very long time (in internet years) KenRockwell.com which has information specific to the Nikon D90 along with other cameras. Another resource is the camera itself! It has a ‘?’ button which provides an explanation (although not very detailed) for whatever setting your are browsing through. I plan to get a book about taking digital pictures as well.
Low Light & Night Pictures
With the point and shoot cameras I’ve had I was always majorly disappointed with the night pictures. I remember taking a bunch of pictures in Rio De Janeiro during Reveillon (New Years Eve) which is likely a once in a lifetime experience and having very few come out. I remember taking pictures from the roof of Sao Paulo’s tallest building and they did not come out. As I brought the camera home from the store I was hoping that a digital SLR like the Nikon D90 would help me take night pictures that were worth looking at.
The first picture I took with the D90 right out of the box was the Bangkok skyline right outside my apartment window and I was immediately astonished. I used the factory settings and didn’t know how to use the camera at all and the clarity and colors were far better than anything I had taken before. I took a picture of a friend in my apartment in very dim lighting and the picture came out looking like the room was in daylight without a flash.
When you see city lights night pictures the sky is usually black and that is what I would strive for on my pictures but a lot of times the sky appeared gray and I wondered if my settings weren’t right in the camera. It turns out (I think) that the camera is picking the mixture of smoke, clouds, fog and smog which is constantly hovering around Bangkok. In the first couple weeks of owning the D90 I think I have taken some very good pictures of Bangkok at Night and Bangkok Nighttime long exposure pictures which stream car lights together. At the time of writing this, my next task is to figure out how to take motion pictures, specifically pictures that show movement by blurring backgrounds or subjects.
Typical Bangkok Night Exposure with Nikon D90
Video: Unnecessary Feature?
First of all in this context a feature is defined as: 1. A prominent or distinctive aspect, quality, or characteristic, 2. An item advertised or offered as particularly attractive or as an inducement.
When I first heard about the Nikon D90 it was mentioned that it was the first Digital SLR to record video. My question was why? Just as the limited still camera built in camcorders does not hold a candle to digital SLRs, the video recorder mode which claims to be HD does not even come close to even the average camcorder. This being said, it could still be handy for situations where a video is more telling than a picture although I would have much rather the D90 had an extra feature, a higher resolution, or anything else which could help improve picture quality than a video recorder.
Video Examples
This video demonstrates the shortcomings of video on a digital SLR like the Nikon D90. Keep in mind that unlike camcorders, there is no autofocus during video mode so if you are trying to record an object which is moving towards you, it will become out of focus and you will have to manually adjust the focus which is clumsy at best.
Here’s an example of something that the video could be good for. I took a bunch of pictures of this odd mask clad Thai rock band and none of them really showed the on-stage antics and look of this odd couple of singers so I decided to take a short video. You can see since the band is not coming toward or going away from the camera, they are in perfect focus for the duration of the video.
The message I’m trying to make is for anyone interested in the Nikon D90. If you are buying this model specifically because it is capable of recording video you may want to reconsider your purchase as the video may not even be considered a “feature” at all.
Impression so Far
In the first couple weeks I love the Nikon D90! Even though I paid the equivalent of 4 months of rent in Bangkok for the camera plus another month of rent in accessories I am fully satisfied. The only thing I am slightly disappointed with is the camera is slightly too small for my (average sized) hands and the compartment where the SD memory card slides open accidentally too easily. The picture quality has been amazing and I can see myself using this camera for the next few years to come unless I can comfortably afford a semi-pro model like the d700 or a professional model such as the D3. Since the price tag of the D3 body only is around $5,000USD I doubt I will be looking through it’s viewfinder any time soon.
